Hello in Oklahoma City
Hello everyone, from Oklahoma City. When I signed up, there wasn't anyone that had posted in the Oklahoma City Blog. It's nice to see someone else here.
I thought I'd take a moment to tell a bit about my experience.
I've always been a big guy and never minded being big. In May 2002 I had a nasty car accident that crunched my ankles and right need, leaving me partially disabled. Always before when I was too big, I'd cut out soda, eat low fat foods and not eat after 6. I'd also walk for 30 minutes 2-3 days a week. After the accident left me unable to walk more than 10 steps at a time, it also left me unable to lose any weight. So gradually I just got bigger and bigger. In addition to causing more pain for my ankles, it made me all around feel poorly. I take a lot of pain meds that zap my energy, but the extra weight has also zapped my energy. When I started getting too big for my "fat pants", then I knew I was in trouble. I tried dieting in other ways, but it didn't do me any good, I couldn't lose weight, since I couldn't exercise. Since I can't climbe in and out of a pool, I wasn't able to find a pool where I could go and exercise in. I called all of the gyms and then all of the physical therapy groups, but none of them allowed persons to use their lift for the pool unless you were a physical therapy patient. So my back was against the wall and I had to do something.
I decided losing 50-80 pounds wouldn't be enough. If I was going to lose, I needed to lose as much as possible to help my ankles, the hopes being that once I lose considerable weight I'd also be able to walk more and maybe gain enough strength in my ankles and feet to walk back at 80%.
I did a lot of study into the different procedures and found that my Medicare paid for the Lap-Band and liked that over the Bypass option, so I set those weels in motion. It took over 30 days to get the letter of approval from my insurance (for the difference between regular Medicare and the Advantage plans, see my post in the insurance section), only to find that I'd need to change my insurance (I have two, possibly three other surgeries in the coming year-one on each of my ankles and a right knee replacement) so the band surgery wouldn't cost me as much in the long run. I'm glad to say I'm scheduled for surgery March 5th and can't wait. I read over the material and look at all the things we can no longer eat and know it will be difficult, but more than worth it. I've never been this large in my life and in the last year I've gained 80 pounds. At that rate, I'll be much over 500 pounds by the end of the year and am so grateful that I have this option and can't wait to mark my success.
Feel free to comment and much success to each of you!
Thanks!
Rich
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